Ukraine’s Tragedy: An Economic ‘Atomic Bomb’ for Hungary?

Why Are We Focused on ‘Economies’ While Humans Are Being Slaughtered? Can We Put An Immediate Stop To ‘Self-Interest’ Attitudes? 

Where’s Our Sense of Empathy?

“An Economic ‘Atomic Bomb’: Hungary Threatens EU’s Latest Sanctions Against Russia, Including Oil Embargo”

“The war in Ukraine is supercharging a food, energy & finance crisis that is pummeling some of the world’s most vulnerable people, countries & economies.” Secretary-General’s press conference at launch of Report entitled: "Global Impact of War in Ukraine on Food, Energy and Finance Systems" --

@antonioguterres

“Ukraine focus diverts food aid from other crisis-stricken regions”

“Ukraine war contributes to ‘perfect storm’ for famine in Somalia”

The quotes above are just some of the commentary to be read, and the focus of discussions since Ukraine was attacked on the 24th of February. 

Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance is the title of a press release by the UN on 13 APRIL 2022, NEW YORK:

The war in Ukraine, in all its dimensions, is producing alarming cascading effects to a world economy already battered by COVID-19 and climate change, with particularly dramatic impacts on developing countries. The world’s most vulnerable people can not become collateral damage.

World on brink of “perfect storm” of crises, warns UN Chief calling for immediate action to avert cascading impacts of war in Ukraine 

Dire consequences of the war on global food, energy and financial markets could upend millions of lives

Dire Consequences?

The only real consequences anyone can or should be thinking of, as far as Ukrainians are concerned, are those from the images and sounds transmitted into living rooms (and wherever we can receive these) in the rest of the world.

The UN’s Response

So, seven weeks (or forty-one days) after the invasion of Ukraine, during which its people are being slaughtered, it seems the world’s body established to suppress “acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace”, chooses to set up a “Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance”; a “Global Crisis Response Group”, NOT to Save Lives?!

Put another way, when our farmer neighbour and his family are being slaughtered in an unprovoked attack, rather than deploy an emergency response, we choose to complain about a “food price crisis”

This, because our farmer neighbour and his family are unable to supply us with what we, perhaps, think we are entitled to be provided by them?

It is rather disappointing to see and to hear of the UN’s approach, when the world would have preferred and expected the immediate focus to be on intensified efforts to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” in Ukraine, as required through its founding charter.

The Charter of the United Nations begins with this introduction:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and 

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and 

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and 

to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and 

to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and 

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS.

Article Article 1.1 of Chapter 1 of the Charter is as follows:

To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace 

Put simply, this also means that every effort should be made to bring an end to this war and, hence, the loss of innocent lives.

Ukraine: the World’s Tragedy

Ukraine’s tragedy is the world’s tragedy; a country which has been home, short-term or long-term, to citizens from many other countries, continues to be attacked and destroyed in a war which no-one knows when it will all be over. 

The pain of Ukraine (the land, rivers and all that they hold); the suffering of Ukrainians themselves are shared by the whole world.

The work of Ukraine’s immediate neighbouring countries to the west and south-west: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, who are at the forefront (and frontline) of international assistance should be acknowledged; Moldova earning the well-deserved label of / as the “small country with a big heart”.

Misplaced Priorities and / or Self-interest Approach?

It seems the priority for some people (outside Ukraine) is to engage in discussions which focus on what we think we are being ‘deprived’: food supplies which, prior to 24th February, had come from Ukraine.

Hungary: An Economic ‘Atomic Bomb’?

In his response to the European Union’s plan to ban Russian oil, as reported in forbes.com, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the decision as “far too costly and would amount to an ‘atomic bomb’ being dropped on the Hungarian economy“.

A rather unfortunate choice of words, Prime Minister Orban? 

Well, Mr Orban, Russian bombs are being dropped on Ukrainian people, with more than a hundred children so far counted among those killed.

When the President of Ghana made the statement above on 29 March, 2020, the COVID-19 virus was not something physically visible, hence the difficulty in convincing people of the importance of following the measures recommended by medical authorities.

No one can be in any doubt the consequences of war: missiles physically dropped on cities; in this case, Ukrainian cities, can be clearly seen.

Ghanaians should be justifiably proud that their president received universal praise (and quote of the year, according to Professor Shari Ahmed @ShafiAhmed5) for that statement he made putting human life above everything else; especially, “the economy”:

When we see a person being killed, does it have to be someone we are directly related, before we engage our feelings and sense of empathy? 

Should we only think of what we are being deprived of, because our own material requirements which come from the victims’ home country have been disrupted?

Even worse, should we continue to obtain our energy supplies from the Russian aggressor, and in doing so, continue to fund its killing machine?

Ukraine’s Daily Reality

Ukraine’s daily reality include the following:

• When the first bread you are able to eat was 38 days after the invasion of your country

• Being attacked when a bomb was dropped on a railway station where people were attempting to escape to a safe destination

• Experiencing unspeakable acts of brutality inflicted on your family and neighbours

• Being trapped in underground bunkers in darkness for several weeks in Mariupol steelworks, not knowing if you will ever come out alive

• Having to live your life in an underground shelter for over sixty-days before you see daylight

• When land mines will be one of the legacies of this Russian invasion, according to The New York Times reports that: Land Mines on a Timer, Scattered Over a Ukrainian Town

• Having to flee your own hometown, and not knowing when you will be able to get back to rebuild the home you left behind, which has now been destroyed through deliberate civilian attacks

• A school attended by children being the latest target of indiscriminate bomb attacks

• You see nine-year old Masha, a resident of Lysychans’k, whose city is under constant shelling, but still defiant during her interview with BBC News on 2 May

Perhaps, we might like to pause for a long reflection on the above daily realities Ukrainians have to live with?

We the Peoples …

Is the rest of the world, through the United Nations, still going to be worrying about an ‘economic crisis’? 

Indeed, is the rest of the world, We the Peoples, aware of this course of action taken by the UN on our behalf?

Where’s our sense of empathy with our fellow humans? Can we put an immediate stop to the ‘self-interest’ attitudes we are currently displaying?

Perhaps, we might like to reflect on the above questions as well?

The immediate priority should, first and foremost, be on preventing Ukraine’s people from being slaughtered, rather than bemoaning the fact that the “Ukraine focus diverts food aid from other crisis-stricken regions”?

Any discussion focused on anything, other than preventing the slaughter of innocent Ukrainians and the destruction of their country, should be deemed morally unacceptable.

Ukraine’s Tragedy and Africa: Intervention By Foreign NGOs

Another response to Ukraine’s tragedy comes from NGOs with foreign origins, who are making links between Ukraine’s tragedy and what in their opinion is Africa’s food crisis:

“East Africa is facing the worst drought in decades, with the #pandemic and conflict in northern Ethiopia compounding the crisis.

But the region is now also feeling the impact of war in #Ukraine through a spike in agricultural commodity prices.” Farm Africa.

Are Africans incapable of speaking for themselves?

Vegetables From Kenya on the Shelves of Europe’s Supermarkets

Meanwhile, these same NGOs haven’t issued a statement questioning why vegetables from Kenya (in the same East Africa) and Zimbabwe are to be found on the shelves of supermarkets in Europe.

Africans are embarrassed by the heartless manner in which outside organisations attempt to suggest that we are victims of Ukraine’s tragic circumstances.

Shouldn’t any dependence by an African country for its food needs on temperate Europe be something which must be questioned? Does Africa not have the conditions to grow its own indigenous crops?

Nonetheless, this is one African farmer’s view: “As Africans, let’s reduce dependence on imported crops whether in war or climate change.” @Chief_Tshepo

Immediate Tasks and Actions

Here is what needs to be done as a matter of urgency:

• Every effort should be made to bring an end to this war and, hence, the loss of innocent lives
• Rebuild the country so that Ukrainians can rebuild their own lives

Other Wars and Conflicts

After these tasks and actions have been addressed, the world should then turn its attention to other parts of the world where war and conflict still persist.

What we also need to demonstrate, above all else at this time, is: 

• Our Sense of Empathy with the people of Ukraine; 
• Show Solidarity with people in other parts of the world going through similar tragedy as Ukraine;
• Remember what the True Meaning of ‘Sacrifice’ is: which is, to forego the things we are used to, and which are supplied by the same neighbours who are now in a tragic situation.

These must be the only things which should be on our minds until our fellow human beings see peace return to their country.

Secretary-General Gutteres in Kyiv

After seeing things for himself in Kyiv on Thursday, 28 April, during a visit which also saw a Russian missile attack on that city, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres can be in no doubt regarding what the urgent priority should be?

Yes, we know how to bring the “finance systems” back to life; what we do not know is how to bring Ukrainians back to life. 

We must ensure Ukrainians stay alive.

#StandUpForUkraine

Ukraine in the Irish Classroom

What Do We Know About Our Newly-Arrived Neighbours?

In August, 1979, the Irish government agreed to take in over two hundred Vietnamese refugees. 

Later refugee populations to arrive in Ireland under an Irish government scheme came from Bosnia, Syria and Afghanistan.

The latest refugees this time to arrive in Ireland are from Ukraine.

Africa in Ireland is making a special exception to look at a country (and a subject) outside the African continent; we are directing attention to Ukraine and its citizens during this terrible period in their country’s history.

Ukraine: the World’s Tragedy

Ukraine’s tragedy is the world’s tragedy; a country which has been home, short-term or long-term, to citizens from many other countries, continues to be attacked and destroyed in a war which no-one knows when it will all be over. 

The pain of Ukraine (the land, rivers and all that they hold); the suffering of Ukrainians themselves are shared by the whole world.

We acknowledge the work of Ukraine’s immediate neighbouring countries to the west and south-west: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, who are at the forefront (and frontline) of international assistance.

School-going Age Arrivals

In all cases, arriving refugees have also always included those of school-going age, who will be continuing their learning alongside Irish children.

So, what do their newly-encountered Irish classmates know about them and their country of origin?

Thanks to the NCCA, we have the answers: in the SESE Geography primary curriculum, the relevant strand unit is People and Other Lands.

A second strand unit which will introduce Ukraine to Irish children is Myth and Legends in the Story Strand of the SESE History primary curriculum; as the saying goes: “It starts with a story”.

One can never go wrong with a good story, and that’s why this is a good starting point; myths and stories from the place under discussion are also included in the People and Other Lands strand unit.

The Myths and Legends strand unit also offers integration links as illustrated below:

People and Other Lands: the strand unit areas

In a peaceful Ukraine which we are all praying for, what will your hosts feed you? 

It is the wish of the world’s majority to see Ukrainians baking their favourite Paska this coming Easter in a peaceful country without a hostile foreign presence.

Paska (Easter Bread)
Photo Credit: Korena Vezerian

In a peaceful Ukraine without foreign occupation:

What are their myths and stories? Art and Culture?

What are the similarities and differences between Ukraine and Ireland?

All these and many other questions have been posed and are expected to be answered in the People and Other Lands strand unit, where a helpful exemplar has also been included (please, see below):

As we continue to pray for peace to return soon to the beautiful country of Ukraine, we need to provide Irish children with the necessary information about that country, in order to broaden their perspectives and achieve understanding of their newly-arrived neighbours.

Thanks to the NCCA, resources on Ukraine, with a focus on the two strand units identified earlier: People and Other Lands in SESE Geography and Myths and Legends in SESE History can be produced as the first step in the broadening of perspectives and the achievement of understanding.

Open Letter to Our Kenyan Friends in Ireland

What Happened to Dr Wangari Maathai’s Legacy?

Dear Kenyans in Ireland

We are writing to you about an issue which is a matter of urgency and great importance.

On Christmas Day at lunchtime, the following Advert, Effects of Climate Change in Africa: The Human Cost was aired on RTÉ One television.

One may never know the reason why the sponsors of the advert decided to schedule this to be transmitted at that particular time; needless to say, imagine if an Irish family had invited African guests for Christmas dinner?

The stated date for this advert as seen on YouTube is 27 January, 2021; and it has been airing on Irish television channels over the last twelve months.

Two issues currently under public discussion in Ireland are: 

mental health; and 

attitudes towards ‘the other’, including people of African heritage.

Under normal circumstances, it would be preferable if those who are the subject of a story in question would speak for themselves and respond accordingly.

However, because recipients of messages might not necessarily make a distinction, but would rather tend to see a story from one relatively small part of Africa as representative of an entire continent, something needs to be done.

The classrooms in Ireland are where your children are receiving their education. This is also were messages by non-educational bodies about Africa are directed.

 

Here is what Professor Jane Plastow of Leeds University Centre for African Studies wrote:

Whether consciously or not, the words and images we use about a place and / or its people evoke powerful feelings in those they are meant to portray, and the reaction of Professor Plastow’s son is an illustration of this.

Dear Kenyan parents in Ireland, do you know how your children feel being subjected to these messages, both in the classrooms and at home through television adverts?

Kenya 🇰🇪 is the home of the Green Belt Movement, @GreenBeltMovmnt 🌳 which was founded by the late Dr Wangari Maathai. This was also long before the world woke up to the environmental crisis.

The world had now come to know and remember the late Dr Maathai as the recipient of the following awards: 

Right Livelihood Award (1984)

Goldman Prize (1991)

Nobel Prize (2004)

West Africans, for example, are envious of the fact that the late professor was not ‘one of our own’, so to speak; notwithstanding, we are equally delighted to share your happiness in her successes.

What, therefore, would the late Dr Maathai be thinking from her final resting place about this depiction of her Motherland here in Ireland through the advert referred to?

Twenty-six years ago to the day today, the 16th of February, Comhlámh organised a Conference which was attended by representatives of all the Irish NGOs involved in projects in Africa; yours truly was in the audience.

The guest speaker was Dr Ikaweba Bunting, former Oxfam Communications Officer for East Africa and a citizen of your neighbouring country, Tanzania.

Below, was what he had to say, among a lot of things, during his presentation:

Dear Kenyans living in Ireland, can the rest of Africa rely on you, our East African friends, to allow your “voices of dissent to be heard”?

We hope so.

Toga the Dancing Goat

 A retold version of the Ethiopian Dancing Goats Legend

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a goat called Toga, who lived in a country now called Ethiopia.

Toga the Goat and his cousins were looked after by Kaldi, a young boy whose father owned many goats.

Every morning, just before sunrise, Kaldi would gather Toga and his cousins together and lead them out into the fields, where Toga and his cousins would spend the whole day wandering and feeding on the lush green grass of the gentle rolling hills.

Kaldi the herder also played the washint, the Ethiopian flute made from bamboo and, sitting under his favourite tree, he would often pass the time playing pleasant tunes on this, as he watched Toga and his cousins feed on the lush green grass out in the open fields.

Sometimes, Toga and his cousins got bored eating the same lush green grass and roaming around the same fields, and soon began to think of things to do. 

One day, on a particularly warm afternoon, while Kaldi was having one of his naps, Toga wandered a little bit away from his cousins, and from where Kaldi was having his nap.

That day, Toga also decided to visit those parts of the green rolling fields he had not yet seen.

After a while, Toga came across a plant with green leaves. But what caught Toga’s eyes were the bright red berries which grew around the branches of the plant.

Toga slowly and carefully moved towards the green plant with the bright red berries, for he had been taught by the older goats to be careful should he happen to come across something new.

Standing a little distance away, Toga took a good long look, first at the leaves, and then at the bright red berries. Next, he moved a bit closer, but very slowly, towards the plant. 

Toga wondered to himself what these berries might be; indeed, he wondered what they might also taste like! But, what tempted Toga most was the pleasant smell which came from the bright red berries.

It didn't take long before Toga took a bite of some of the bright red berries, which also tasted as nice as they smelt. After a few more bites of the bright red berries, Toga began to have a very interesting kind of feeling.

The Central Character in the Story!

Toga's descendant, one of Ethiopia's 52.5 million goats (2020 FAO estimates) photo credit: Armin Kübelbeck

It was also the kind of feeling which made Toga want to dance and, before he realised it, Toga found himself dancing, even dancing for the best part of one hour.

Toga looked around and suddenly realised that it was getting late and that he had also wandered a bit too far away from his cousins and Kaldi, so he started to return to them.

Luckily for Toga, he also managed to get back, and before Kaldi woke up from his afternoon nap, so he hadn’t noticed that Toga had gone missing.

Later that evening, after Kaldi had gone to bed, Toga told his cousins about his adventures earlier that day. Toga also promised to take his cousins to show them the plant with the green leaves and bright red berries.

The next day, just before sunrise, and just as he had always done every morning, Kaldi led Toga and his cousins out into the fields, where Toga and his cousins would spend the whole day wandering and feeding on the lush green grass of the gentle rolling hills, as they had always done.

After some time, when it began to get a little bit warmer, Kaldi started to have one of his naps. 

As soon as Toga noticed that Kaldi was having one of his afternoon naps, he whispered to his cousins and asked them to follow him.

Toga led his cousins towards the part of the field a little bit further and away from Kaldi, and to where he had seen the green plants with the green leaves and bright red berries the day before.

After a little while, Toga and his cousins arrived at the place where Toga had been the day before. Toga told them how he had tasted the bright red berries and how these made him feel. He then moved closer and picked some of the bright red berries to put into his mouth.

However, Toga’s cousins were not so sure he should go ahead and taste the bright red berries, and warned him to be careful.

All the same, Toga [still] went ahead and took a bite at some of the bright red berries, as his cousins looked on very anxiously, and then he asked them to try some.

At first, Toga’s cousins were not so sure, but after a while and a little nudging, they decided to trust Toga and so they tried some of the bright red berries.

Before long, Toga and his cousins had finished eating most of the bright red berries on one of the branches of the plant with the green leaves.

Before long, Toga and his cousins began to have a funny feeling - a happy funny kind of feeling the same as Toga had felt the day before - and which also changed the way they acted.

Once again, just like the day before, this happy funny kind of feeling turned into the dance which Cousin Toga had performed.

First, Toga - for it was him who was the first to taste the bright red berries - lifted his front left foot, followed by his front right foot and did a terrific somersault - the kind you will also only see the best gymnasts perform at the Olympic Games.

After landing on all four feet, Toga performed another dance which, years later, became the best dance one would ever see in a ballet performance. Indeed, this ballet was the best one would likely ever see outside of Russia as performed by the Bolshoi.

Meanwhile, Kaldi had woken up from his afternoon nap and, slowly, he began to rub his eyes, as he looked left, looked right, looked straight ahead and, finally, looked behind him.

Kaldi was looking for Toga and his cousins but couldn’t see any of them. Starting to get very worried, Kaldi was sure his father would be very upset with him if he returned home without Toga and his cousins.

Kaldi had to find Toga and his cousins, so he looked left, looked right, looked straight ahead and, finally, looked behind him. "Which way?", he wondered.

After scratching his head for a little while - the way one would do before deciding to do something - Kaldi chose to go left. Maybe because he saw some droppings he was sure belonged to Toga?!

Kaldi walked across the rolling fields, keeping his eyes wide open and his ears very alert to see or hear any sign or sound of Toga and his cousins. And, of course, he was looking for more droppings which he was sure would belong to Toga!

After a rather long walk, Kaldi saw from the distance something which made him jump.

“What’s going on over there?” Kaldi wondered as he suddenly stopped, surprised at what he was seeing.

Toga and his cousins had got themselves in a circle. Then, after what seemed to Kaldi like a count of one, two and three, they all stood on their hind legs and jumped up together. Next, they all faced outside and, once again, at the count of one, two and three, they all did the somersault together.

Kaldi watched Toga and his cousins as they performed different dances. In fact, any dance you could think of, Toga and his cousins performed: the chariot dance learnt from Thor the Thunderer's goats, Tanngniost the Tooth Gnasher and Tanngrisnir the Tooth Grinder. 

Next, they danced the Irish ceili which had been learnt from King Puck of Kerry. Indian kathakali, Spanish paso doble, Argentinian tango, Brazilian lambada; even modern dances like rock and roll and the twist. 

Finally, they performed the ballet as the Bolshoi would have done!

By now, Kaldi didn’t know what to think. Yes, he had found Toga and his cousins; but, how was he going to get them to stop dancing and bring them back home?

How was Kaldi also going to explain to his family what he had just seen happen in the fields; and if his family would even be convinced of or accept as true his story about the dancing goats?

Besides, whoever heard of dancing goats?

Kaldi drew closer to have a good look at what was happening and as he did this, he noticed that one of the goats was eating some berries. 

Kaldi paused for a little while and then picked some of the bright red berries which he put into his mouth to see what would happen. Definitely, not a safe or clever thing to do! Remember what his parents had said?

After another little while, Kaldi felt the same way as Toga and his cousins had felt earlier on and, before long, he also started dancing.

After some time, Toga and his cousins began to feel tired; and so did Kaldi, who decided he should better get the goats home, but not before he had taken some of the bright red berries with him in his bag.

Because of their adventures earlier that day, and because they were also a bit far away from their usual place in the fields, it took them a bit longer to arrive back home, where Kaldi's family and neighbours were waiting for them with worry.

Back home, when Kaldi was alone with his father, he showed him the bright red berries and told him about Toga and his dancing cousins. After a long pause, as old people usually do, Kaldi's father decided to taste some of the bright red berries himself.

He felt some kind of energy, the same as Toga, his cousins and Kaldi had felt when they ate the bright red berries, but he stopped himself from dancing.

Kaldi's father then suggested that they should take the bright red berries to show to the monks in the local monastery. These monks had been having problems staying awake during prayers.

The monks, after carefully examining the bright red berries and having listened to the effects these have had on the way Toga, his cousins and Kaldi all behaved afterwards, decided to experiment by boiling the berries. They then drank the juice from this.

As the monks had correctly guessed, drinking the juice from the boiled red berries kept them awake during their prayers, especially at night.

After some time, Toga became too old to go out into the fields with the younger goats. However, he stayed at home, where his nephews and nieces brought him his dinner, and after which he gave dance lessons for a long time afterwards.

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/250090585527229955/

Many, many years later, people from other parts of Ethiopia came to visit Toga’s hometown and asked if they could be allowed to take seedlings of the plant back home with them.

In those days, people from across the Red Sea in Yemen in Southern Arabia also travelled to Ethiopia. On one of these journeys they asked if they could be allowed to take seedlings of the plant back home with him.

It was the people of Yemen who also decided to take the seed, also known as a bean, out of the fruit; the green beans are first dried and then roasted until the beans turned from green to dark brown.

The roasted beans were then crushed in a grinder and, when hot water was added, is what we know today as the coffee 'grown-ups' drink.

Image Source: https://www.dancinggoats.com/

So, boys and girls can now tell their grown-ups where the coffee they like to drink came from, and how a goat was responsible for finding the plant from which the coffee berries or beans also came from.